Oxford University make it four wins in a row by defeating their Cambridge
rivals 33-15, despite playing most of the second half with 14 men after
scrum-half Sam Egerton is sent off

Oxford University captain John Carter apologised on behalf of his scrum-half Sam Egerton who became the first player to be sent off in the 141 year history of the Varsity Match.

Egerton, a law student at Keble College, was shown a straight red card by referee Matt Carley after television match official Graham Hughes caught him making contact with the face of Cambridge's replacement flanker Nick Viljoen ten minutes into the second half.

Egerton, who was man of the match in last year's fixture, appeared to make contact with Viljoen's mouth, nose then right cheek as he scrabbled for the ball in ruck.

"The referee said it was contact with the face. I can't comment on the actual incident I just know that Sam is apologetic for bringing the game into disrepute by getting a red card on the pitch," Carter said.

"It wasn't meant with any malice. I spoke with Sam he's told me it's accidental and that's the end of that."

There had been only three yellow cards issued in the previous 131 Varsity Matches so Egerton's historic dismissal overshadowed a record-equalling fourth successive win for Oxford and Carter's record breaking achievement of captaining a side three times in the fixture.

The former Sale number eight , who was forced to retire from professional rugby by a shoulder injury six years ago, announced afterwards that he had retired from all rugby with immediate effect.

Carter, who will leave Oxford next summer to become a psychoanalyst, had intended to let his back-row colleague James Harris collect the trophy if Oxford won but Harris, a former Wasps and Newport Gwent Dragons flanker, ended the match in hospital with a dislocated hip.

Egerton, who will now face an Oxford disciplinary panel, had contributed to the Dark Blues win before he was sent off as he scored the try that broke Cambridge's resistance four minutes into the second half.

Cambridge struggled all afternoon against a dominant Oxford pack and when they lost a scrum against the head Egerton linked superbly with loosehead prop Lewis Anderson to slice through from close range.

Cambridge played some attractive rugby in patches and scored well-worked tries from wing Nick Jones and full-back Toby May, but they were battered up front and Carter ended an outstanding university career by scoring Oxford's opening try from a five metre scrum.

"It's an incredible opportunity to go through three seasons as captain and share the experience with 30 or 40 other people. I feel very lucky to have been afforded the opportunity to do that," Carter said.